Yup.... I agree that it’s best days are behind it based on the deteriorating current trends that the OP has highlighted.
It used to have an honor code in a gentleman’s club arena that has now been eroded significantly IMO. This includes a disturbing increasing trend of select types repeatedly stoking the useless and irritating discussion forum "cable wars" and/or dissing expensive high end gear and accessory purchases. This hobby has (had?) a range of enthusiasts from low-fi through mid-fi to hi-fi with an equal respected standing that now has frayed that puts some on the defensive at a minimum.
Interesting that the OP highlights the explosion of too many instances of buyers now aggressively lowballing to the extreme. Sure, some will dismiss this as just business so don’t gripe about it. But then they should not expect any of "that extra mile" offerings in return either that used to be graciously and cheerfully offered by sellers and highly appreciated with thanks by the buyers in a past AGON era.
Simply put, that camaraderie is gone and too many posts have evolved into an absence of elementary etiquette normally expected -- and previously enjoyed -- as we live in a polite society. These downward spirals are not limited just to Audiogon - the other audio forums have suffered the same and worse IMO. If one agrees with the OP, the 800 pound gorilla in the room question to me, is how much of this is the shortcoming of the members to maintain a prior decorum versus any shortcomings of the moderators to maintain and promote the same.
It used to have an honor code in a gentleman’s club arena that has now been eroded significantly IMO. This includes a disturbing increasing trend of select types repeatedly stoking the useless and irritating discussion forum "cable wars" and/or dissing expensive high end gear and accessory purchases. This hobby has (had?) a range of enthusiasts from low-fi through mid-fi to hi-fi with an equal respected standing that now has frayed that puts some on the defensive at a minimum.
Interesting that the OP highlights the explosion of too many instances of buyers now aggressively lowballing to the extreme. Sure, some will dismiss this as just business so don’t gripe about it. But then they should not expect any of "that extra mile" offerings in return either that used to be graciously and cheerfully offered by sellers and highly appreciated with thanks by the buyers in a past AGON era.
Simply put, that camaraderie is gone and too many posts have evolved into an absence of elementary etiquette normally expected -- and previously enjoyed -- as we live in a polite society. These downward spirals are not limited just to Audiogon - the other audio forums have suffered the same and worse IMO. If one agrees with the OP, the 800 pound gorilla in the room question to me, is how much of this is the shortcoming of the members to maintain a prior decorum versus any shortcomings of the moderators to maintain and promote the same.
